Patent News 7
National Inventors Hall of Fame
Inventive Links - Part of the Hall of Fame
I love inventors and inventions. It was one of the driving forces that led me to decide to hang up my shingle in this field.
Back in 1973 the USPTO and the National Council of Intellectual Property Law Associations founded a National Inventors Hall of Fame and it was set up in Alexandria, Virginia. In case you are not aware the US Patent Office is located in Alexandria.
The stated purpose of the Hall of Fame was to honor the men and women responsible for the technological advances that make human, social and economic progress possible. The first honoree was, guess who, Thomas Edison. Each year, inductees are selected from a field of people nominated by peers and the public. Today there are 390 inventors in the Hall of Fame.
Thomas Alva Edison
Eventually the Hall outgrew its location and moved to Akron, Ohio where it opened to the public in 1995 and where it developed additional programs.
But this week the US Patent Office (USPTO) announced the opening of the National Inventors Hall of Fame in the museum of its Alexandria, Va., campus. The Hall of Fame has returned to its roots.
Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO John Doll commented; “We are delighted that the National Inventors Hall of Fame has returned to its roots at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the journey to induction begins here with a patent, so it is only appropriate that those innovators who have truly transformed our lives should be honored at our headquarters.”
The Hall of Fame opening is being celebrated with a new exhibit about the inductees, “Inventive Links.” The “Inventive Links” exhibit illustrates the unexpected way in which modern technology is interlinked. Visitors take a journey along the exhibit wall and view six unique sections starting with a question and following the connections. With a little inventiveness and some detective work, you will see how each path links the innovations of a variety of inventors inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
Inventing Transistors
The links that connect these inventors are drawn from the inductee inventions, the patents and trademarks they hold, and the interconnecting events and circumstances of their lives. Through these many and varied links you will discover how seemingly unrelated inventions have led to many major technological achievements.
In addition to “Inventive Links”, the museum features an interactive kiosk with biographical profiles and information on all 390 inductees. The atrium of the Madison Building also has an exhibit honoring this year’s inductees, who will be formally enshrined on May 2.
I am looking forward to visiting. The Hall of Fame and “Inventive Links” exhibits are located in the USPTO’s Museum off the atrium of the Madison Building, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, Va. The museum and Hall of Fame is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on Saturdays from noon to 5:00 p.m. It is closed Sundays and federal holidays. Admission is free.
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Patent News 7 - National Inventors Hall of Fame
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Mike Ervin
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